Mars in bad seeing 30/11/2005

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys.

Last night was semi-clear, even though there was high cloud and Mars drifted in and out of visibility, I wanted to do something so I setup to image Mars.

The high cloud meant gain was cranked up over 50%, and the seeing was very bad.

I'm not happy with the image, wasn't intending to post it, but anyway here's the fruits of a few hours of labour.

I guess it just goes to show how the #1 limiting factor in the quality of your image is the seeing. Giving it 3/10 is probably too generous, as even through the eyepiece there were just no details visible.

Also it's a shame to see Mars getting smaller, already under 17" and the gibbous phase means the dreaded bright limb again thanks to registax.

Ah well, I think Mars is done for 2005.

[matt]

Mike

Looked similar to what we had in Canberra last night.

Not bad, given what you were working with.

Wonder what features are presented in your image?

Enjoyed your Saturn images too, by the way. Had a quick look myself this morning for the first time with my scope.

Amazing!!!!

[ving (David)]

the seeing showed in your saturn pic. good go at it tho.


i looked outside and decided to give it a miss. cloud covered most of the sky

[asimov (John)]

Looks ok to me Mike! As we all know, it's not really a competition on best astro-pics, no one should feel bad/ashamed/embarrassed about posting their supposedly 'yucky' images.

Well done!

[Robert_T]

Solis Lacus - eye of mars - is still pretty clear here. Just think in a few months time you'll look back and think wow I wish I had the chance to image mars at 16" again. If the sky ever (and I mean ever ) clears again I'll be keen to chase down Mars all the way down into single digits. It does get smaller and no doubt less albedo details, but the angle of sunlight changes as Mars comes round and can actually throw features like the volcanos into sharper relief.

Reckon there's some life in the ol' red blob for a few months yet...

cheers,

[ving (David)]

Originally Posted by Robert_T

but the angle of sunlight changes as Mars comes round and can actually throw features like the volcanos into sharper relief.

a bit like imaging the moon then huh?